Assange backs off from vow on extradition

Paris, January 19

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange retreated from his pledge to accept extradition to the US if Chelsea Manning was granted clemency, arguing via his lawyers that what he was really asking for was an immediate pardon for the ex-Army analyst.

Last week, Assange raised eyebrows across the Internet when he appeared to offer himself up as a kind of swap for Manning, the former private convicted of leaking the hundreds of thousands of documents that made WikiLeaks a household name.

“If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition,” WikiLeaks said.

But when Obama granted clemency to Manning on Tuesday, Assange’s lawyers said it wasn’t enough. — AP